Post on 23-Jul-2020
transcript
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MacawCare–Howtokeepyourmacawhealthyandhappy!
MacawsoriginatefromSouthAmerica.Inthewildtheytravel in flocks and are very inquisitive. They are bigspectacularbirdsthatareveryvocalandgenerallytalkwell. Their large beaks are very powerful so it isimportanttotakecarewheninteractingwiththemandnot leave them unattended while free-roaming in thehouse.
SomeofthemacawspeciescommonlyavailableinPerthinclude the Blue and Gold, Green Wing and ScarletMacaws.
Diet Being from the tropics of South America it isbelievedthatthesespeciesneedalotoffruitandwhilefruit isan importantpartof theirdiet it shouldnotbetheirwholediet.Thereasonforthisisthatinthewildtheyoftenwilltravellargedistanceseachday,whichmakesthemburnofftheextracaloriesassociatedwithahighfruitdiet.Incaptivity,theyaregenerallylimitedtoasmallerspacemeaningtheyoftendonotexerciseasmuch.Theyalsohavelessvarietyoffruitavailablethantheywouldinthewild.
Everymacawisdifferentandhasdifferingdietaryrequirementssoforyourowntailoreddietaryplanpleasecontactus.Generalguidelinesformanyofthemacawspeciescanbefoundbelow:
• 40-70%premiumcommercialparrotpelleteddiet• 10-35% vegetables (recommended vegetables include: capsicum, broccoli, chili, corn,
carrot,zucchini,squash,spinach,pumpkin,sweetpotato,beansandpeas)andsproutedseed.
• 10-40% fruits (i.e. melons, strawberries, banana, blue berries, grapes, peaches, pear,apple).Pleaseensurethatallstonefruitsandapplesarefreeoftheirseeds.
• 0-15%qualitycommercialseedmix.• 1-2%snacksfortrainingandastreats(unsaltednuts(i.e.macadamia,cashewandwalnut),
pasta,eggsandbrownrice.)
Housing:
Theirdestructivebeakscangetthemintroubleandtheycanquicklydestroyfurnitureifleftunattended.Pleasekeepthemawayfromforeignobjects.Pleasedonotprovidestringorropetoysastheyoftenwillfrayovertimeandcancauseagastrointestinalobstructionifswallowed.
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Weadviseagoodqualitypowdercoatedorstainlesssteelcageofanappropriatesize.Somepaintedcagescancontainleadelementswhichcanbe
toxictoyourbirdsopleasetakecarewhenselectingyourcage.Cagesthathavebeengalvanizedwithazinccoatingcanalsocauseproblemssopleaseselectcarefully.
Stainlesssteelorceramicbowlsaregenerallyrecommendedasthesematerialsarenotporousmakingcleaningeasierandmoreeffective.Plasticbowlscanbecomeporousafterawhileandcancauseproblemsifbacteriabuildupintheseareas.
Perchesofvarioussizesareimportantforexerciseofthetoesandfeethealth.Theyalsohelptopromotethenaturalwearoftheirtoenails.Naturalperchesfromnativetreesareidealastheygenerallyvaryinsizeanyway.
Environmentalenrichmentishighlyrecommendedandencouraged.Simplethingslikeutilizingcardboardtoiletrollstohidefoodcanprovidehoursofentertainmentformanybirds.
Itisimportantthatyourbirdgetsenoughsleepaslong-daylightexposurecanstimulateexcessivemoultingandincreasedreproductiveactivity.Werecommendyoukeeptothenaturaldaylength.Ifyourbirdiskeptinsideinawell-litarea,thenyoucancoverthecagewhenthesungoesdownandplacetheminadarkroomtoensurethattheirdaylengthisnottoolong.
Commondiseases:Oneofthemostcommondiseasesthatweseeinmacawsisanupsetgastrointestinaltract.Theywilloftenpresentforregurgitation,vomitingordiarrhoea.Ifyouseeanyofthesesignswerecommendaconsultationastherearemanydifferentcausesandifleftuntreatedyoumaybeputtingyourbird’slifeatrisk.
Upperrespiratorytractinfectionischaracterizedbysneezingoroculardischargeandiscommoninyoungbirds.Onceagainitishighlyadvisedtobringtheminforanappointmentastherearearangeofdifferentcausesofupperrespiratorytractdisease.Chlamydiainfectioniscommoninyoungbirds,thisisaseriousdiseasethatcanbetransferredtootherbirdsANDhumans.
Macaws are generally very curious and sometimes get themselves into trouble with foreignobjects.Itisquitecommonforthemtoeatorchewonitemsthattheyshouldn’t(jewelry,plastic
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toys, ropetoys,electricalcordsetc.). Ifyouareconcernedthatyourbirdmayhaveeatenorchewedonsomethingthattheyshouldn’thave,thenpleasegetin
touchwithus.
Reproductivediseasesandbehaviouralproblemsarealsoquitecommoninmacaws.
Ifyoudecidetoclipyourbird’swingsitishighlyadvisablethatitisperformedbysomeonewithexperience. Incorrect wing clips can lead to serious problems. It is common for birds withincorrectwing clips to hurt themselveswhen they fall. See ourwing clip handout formoreinformation.
Ifyouareatallconcernedaboutyourbirdpleasegetintouchwithus.
Veterinarycare:Regularcheck-upsevery6-12monthsareimportant,asbirdsareverygoodathidinganyillnessesthattheyhave.Thesecheck-upsallowproblemstobedetectedearlybeforetheyworsen.
Microchipping is also highly recommended as we see many birds that escape each year.Microchipping allows your contact details tobe easily found if yourbird is handed in to anyveterinaryclinicorgoodrescuefacility.Weuseaspecializedsmallmicrochipthatisinsertedintoyour bird’s pectoral muscle; this is a quick, simple procedure that can be performed in aconsultationtimeslot.
Ifyouhaveanyfurtherquestionsaboutyourmacawpleasedon’thesitatetocontactus.